search cityguideny

Tio Pepe: Very Tasty Shades of Spain in Greenwich Village

Tio Pepe has prospered since 1970, and considering this Greenwich Village hot spot is right in the middle of one of the most competitive restaurant neighborhoods in the world, it must be doing something right. It is, in fact, doing many things right.

Tio Pepe offers different strokes for different folks. Up front there’s a lively bar scene, a sidewalk cafe, exposed brick walls, bare tables of colorful inlaid tiles, peppy Latino music, and wall-to-wall young people. Patrons who walk through the restaurant’s main dining room and reach the skylight patio room in the rear enter a place of candlelight, stone and brick walls, a wood-burning oven, and romance.

In both rooms, and everywhere in-between, the fresh guacamole is made to order (hot, medium, or mild) tableside with a stone pestle and mortar, the homemade corn chips are warm, and the salsa is snappy. Starters to savor include: sopa de mariscos, a luxurious mix of saffron, brandy cream, and fresh seafood; gambas al ajillo, sautéed shrimp with garlic and albariño wine; and pulpo, Spanish octopus with paprika and potatoes. Jumbo pitchers of margaritas and the very good sangria are the order of the day.

And then there’s the rice. At many—perhaps most—restaurants, rice is neutral at best. At Tio Pepe, the rice is not only impeccably cooked and moist, but it has a full flavor of a sort that has diners eating it not just because it’s on the table, but because it tastes good.

Also recommended is the paella Valenciana, saffron-laced Bomba rice with clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken, and chorizo; chuletas de cordero, grilled baby lamb chops, rosemary, garlic, and Albariño wine. The menu is fully updated, with current New York obsessions like shishito peppers (served blistered with sea salt) available as well.

Dinner is not the only time to be here. Weekend brunches are served from noon to 4pm and come with favorites like flatbreads, egg casseroles, and torrijas, a Spanish take on French bread. A good deal gets even better when you add an hour and a half of bottomless margaritas, mimosas, or Bloody Marys for only $14.

Another amazing deal Tio Pepe offers is their happy hour, with $7 cocktails and $7 tapas (there's even select bottles of beer for $5). Happy hour is served Tuesday-Sunday from 4-7pm.

At dessert time, try the arroz con leche, traditional rice pudding with a toasted lime cream; caramel custard (flan); or churros con chocolate, served with molten chocolate, dusted with cinnamon—they’re extraordinary. So is Tio Pepe.

search cityguideny

(2/7-2/13) Looking for what to do in New York? We've got the latest on all the goings-on in NYC, from concerts to museum exhibitions to comedy to the best in city sightseeing. Read on for our picks for the best of this week in New York City. click here